People foods your dog CAN enjoy

It’s tempting to feed people food and sometimes seems healthier. We know our dogs love it. Here are a few great options when thinking about offering people food. Remember, though, moderation is the key. Too much of a good thing can be a problem. Always stop if your dog gets diarrhea, vomiting or gas.

If you want to do a homemade diet, phone us and we can give you tips on where to find recipes to balance your dog’s diet. These listed items are intended as treats or supplemented in addition to a balanced commercially prepared diet.

 

1) Peanut butter: An occasional tablespoonful of peanut butter is a great treat and also a useful trick to get your dog to take pills. (Just make sure your brand of peanut butter doesn't have xylitol – this is primarily a problem with powdered peanut butter products)

 

2) Yogurt: PLAIN yogurt can be a great treat. Historically we recommended this for dogs with digestive issues as a source of probiotic bacteria, but we have since discovered this is not a great source of this helpful bacteria. So, if you are using this as a digestive aid then you should ask us for a better probiotic supplement recommendation. Use yogurts without added sugar or artificial sweeteners.

 

 

 

3) Chicken/Turkey: This can be a great source of extra protein but it must be cooked. Uncooked/undercooked poultry can give your dog salmonella. Best if giving poultry to stay clear of seasonings and extra salt.

 

4) Seafood: As long as this is well cooked and fed in moderation (e.g., no more than 3 to 4 shrimp at a time), then this can be a great source of omega fatty acids.

 

5) Cottage cheese: A great protein source to add to your dog’s food.

 

 

6) Other cheese: Moderation is the key. In small amounts cheese can be a great treat and also another good choice for giving pills so long as your dog isn’t lactose intolerant. Ideal to choose a lower-fat cheese such as mozzarella.

7) Carrots: What a great low fat treat option. And it’s crunchy, which most dogs love and make it good for your dog’s teeth. High in fiber and vitamins.

 

8) Pumpkin: Yes, your dog can have pumpkin, but as either a raw product or canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling). No pumpkin muffins or pumpkin cake. It’s a superb source of fiber and vitamin A. Highly useful in dogs who have anal sac issues.

9) Eggs: Cooked eggs are okay for an occasional snack for a protein boost. Eggs WHITES are best. If you want to use this on a regular basis, then stick to egg whites only. The yolks are high in fat and can cause pancreas problems if too much is fed. Never feed raw eggs. There is a risk of bacterial contamination from bacteria such as salmonella, which could make your dog sick.

 

10) Honey: A tablespoonful of honey once or twice daily might help if your dog has allergies. It’s rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, and antioxidants.

 

Post by Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline)

 

 

 

Picture sources:

Peanut butter: https://www.flickr.com/photos/certified_su/234726096

Yogurt: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theimpulsivebuy/24326222175

Cottage cheese: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fabienne/18810991924

Carrot: https://www.pexels.com/search/carrot/

Eggs: https://www.pexels.com/photo/food-eggs-8439/

What we LOVE about our Cats

We had some excellent entries from those of your sharing what you love most about your cat. Here are some of our favorites:


WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY CAT....


Neo gives back rubs during the workday!


My kitties sleep in pasta bowls.


He flies through the air: "Air-Jasper"


Dexter is so chill and calm. I love him so much!

She's still spunky in her old age and is getting better at accepting her new baby brother at home. :)

He bit me and now we are friends (good thing he had his rabies vaccine!).

His big attitude matches his big size...he's definitely king of the house. :)

She is the sweetest, loving cat I've had in 30 years!




She is so protective of our granddaughter.




Minnie loves to ride in the car.


Skittles has a real personality.


Cheeto is cuddly and fluffy.


T.J. is my baby! No one could love him like I do.


Bigglesworth's way of snuggling after I rescued him.

They are the loves of our lives. They love to be with us, snuggle and play. We adore them!


Summer is sweet and playful. She cuddles, she is warm and she cuddles with toys. She is really cute.




Thank you to everyone who participated.

Annual Meals for Paws

You're Infested!

You find fleas on your pet and your house is infested.

STEP ONE: DON’T PANIC

Fleas spike between August and October in North Carolina. We are already starting to see the early signs heavy infestations are coming this year

STEP TWO: Start ALL your pets (especially indoor only cats) on appropriate and effective flea preventive to be given ONCE a month. As a note, we have super fleas in North Carolina. In our area most fipronil-containing over-the-counter products do not work well (this is Frontline Top Spot, Frontline Gold and Frontline Plus) but Frontline TRITAK does work. Other effective products include Nexgard, Bravecto or Comfortis tablets, Advantage, and Revolution.

STEP THREE: Treat your house and the yard! Why? Fleas can live for several months in your house and yard, and flea eggs can survive in your carpet, cushions, and drapes for years. Your pet isn’t the only one at risk: People can get irritating flea bites too. Ridding your home of these pests takes time and a concerted approach.

  HERE’S WHAT TO DO:

For the house: The absolute most important is to vacuum everywhere every 2 to 3 days for 3 weeks. This rids the environment of adult fleas, larvae and eggs. Tape the vacuum bag shut and dispose after every vacuum. 

  

   You can use a professional service to treat your house and yard. Or, if you have a lot of carpeted areas, try using Borax (boric acid laundry detergent)- sprinkle over carpet and work into fibers with a broom. Leave down for 24 hours and then vacuum up. This is safe for people, kids and pets to walk on while it is sitting.

     Or, you can use a room fogger but remember this cannot get under furniture and it is not safe to have pets near this for several hours afterward and during.

     If your dog or cat spends time outdoors, be sure to wash the bedding (indoor and outdoor) or discard old hay and wood chips, if you use it. Spray doghouses and kennels with an indoor flea spray, and let all treated areas dry before you let your pet outside.

For the yard: Use a professional, concentrated yard sprays or sprinkle granules (such as Bayer Advanced with the active ingredient of immidcloprid) for the yard, especially in sandy areas your dog may lie. You can buy many that attach easily to the end of a garden hose for application. It’s especially important to spray moist and shaded areas of your yard. But be sure not to use any environmental treatments directly on your pet

 

Blog Post by Zoe Forward, DVM, DABVP (canine/feline)

Picture credits:

Itchy cat: http://bit.ly/2aeySwb

Itchy dog: http://bit.ly/2a3EFCy

Dog & Cat: istockphoto.com